The world’s largest agricultural machinery show was in Regina last month to encourage North American manufacturers and farmers to make a trip to Germany.
The German Agricultural Society (DLG) has held Agritechnica every two years since 1985. Representatives attended the Western Canada Farm Progress Show in mid-June to pitch their show.
Malene Conlong of DLG said six Canadian exhibitors attended the Hanover show in 2005 and this fall 50 are expected.
“We’re also hoping Canadian farmers would benefit from seeing exhibits,” she said.
Agritechnica features 2,000 exhibitors, compared to about 700 exhibitors at Farm Progress.
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The German show uses 18 halls covering 70 acres and groups displays by use. For example, all the seeding equipment is in one place.
The Regina show, on the other hand, uses mostly outdoor space and assigns it by company rather than purpose.
Farm Progress manager Rob O’Connor said the idea of grouping machinery by use is interesting but not necessarily practical from a cost perspective.
“I struggle with how someone like John Deere could do that,” he said, noting companies would have to bring in more people to staff their displays.
The week-long Agritechnica attracts 300,000 visitors from 81 countries and uses bar codes to track attendance.
Conlong said a recent survey of 3,500 farmers in eight European countries found farmers are willing to invest in agricultural equipment despite the global recession.
Farmers are watching the economic situation and remain convinced agriculture has a positive future, she added.
“We all have to eat and they know that,” she said.
Agritechnica runs Nov. 10-14, with two preview days Nov. 8-9.
A one-day admission costs about $33, compared to $15 to attend Farm Progress.
